Chapter 11 The Plan
Katara slowly trailed behind Aang as the two made their way back to the camp. She was apprehensive about their return. She couldn't help but worry about how Zuko would take seeing her and Aang together. She silently gazed down at the ground the entire way completely lost in her troubled thoughts. She was almost afraid of seeing Zuko, afraid to see the hurt in his eyes. He was her friend and she cared about him deeply but he was in love with her and she knew it would hurt him regardless of how he reacted. She turned her eyes to Aang, she smiled slightly. He was actually himself again, his gray eyes sparkling in the sunlight. Her heart warmed at the sight. After all these years he had fought his way back to her. After everything they had been through he was here with her. He was alright. She reached for his hand and gripped it tightly in hers. He turned abruptly to her and smiled. She smiled back at him. She then gazed at the path ahead and sighed heavily, there was no way to put off the inevitable.
As Aang and Katara approached the camp Zuko could barely breathe. She was holding his hand and they both were smiling.
"Aang's awake," Sokka exclaimed excitedly tapping Zuko in the arm. He quickly ran to meet his sister and friend. Zuko just smiled weakly at Sokka's excitement. He remained in his place just gazing ahead as the Avatar reunited with his friends. A strange feeling came over him as he watched the trio from a distance, seeing Aang back to himself again, smiling and laughing. The irony of it all was certainly not lost on him. This very moment was the whole purpose of his mission, the whole reason that he had brought Katara here in the first place. Out of love for her he had searched for the Avatar, not realizing that when he had finally found him he would have to make the ultimate sacrifice, he would have to let Katara go. He turned away from them and sat down at the base of a palm tree next to the sleeping monk Basho. The monk opened an eye and glanced curiously over at Zuko.
"Have they returned yet," he asked. Zuko turned abruptly to the monk and gazed at him questioningly.
"I thought you were sleeping, how did you know that Katara and Aang were missing?"
"I don't miss much," he smirked at Zuko, "besides I was only resting my eyes, an old man needs to do that once in a while, they don't work as well as they use to you know." Zuko smirked back at the old man.
"They are back," he sighed, "and apparently the Avatar is awake as well."
"Oh well isn't that good news," the monk exclaimed raising an eyebrow in Zuko's direction.
"Yeah," Zuko sighed less then enthusiastically, "it's great." Basho gazed at Zuko questioningly.
"This was the purpose of your mission was it not General?"
"Of course," Zuko said defensively, "I just hadn't expected…." He turned to face the monk who was now gazing at him inquisitively.
"Nothing," he exclaimed, "never mind!" He quickly stood and started to walk away when Aang and Sokka suddenly approached him followed by Katara.
"Zuko," Aang smiled, "it's been a long time." Zuko did his best to force a smile.
"Hello Aang," he sighed glancing over in Katara's direction, "Katara." She looked up to him briefly and smiled before quickly averting her gaze. Zuko turned his eyes toward the ground; he simply couldn't bring himself to look at her. Sokka glanced warily back and forth between the two of them, completely aware of the awkwardness that now existed.
"Listen," Aang said getting Zuko's attention again, "Katara told about your mission to find me." He paused looking down and away from Zuko. Zuko just gazed at him questioningly.
"And about the ship…and your crew," he paused, "I'm sorry Zuko." Zuko nodded.
"You didn't have any control of your actions Aang," he replied, "there's no way you could have known what you were doing."
"But it was still me," Aang exclaimed, "I still…" Katara suddenly approached Aang and gently rested a hand upon his shoulder.
"Aang," she whispered, "please don't blame yourself." He turned to her and smiled weakly, slowly laying his hand upon hers. He turned back to Zuko.
"Katara is right Aang," Zuko sighed, "nobody here blames you for what happened." Aang nodded.
"Well then," Aang sighed changing the subject, "what else have you found out about this spirit, have you come up with a way to defeat him?" Zuko just shook his head.
"We haven't exactly come up with any plan as of yet," he replied, "but as far as information goes, I'm sure Monk Basho will be more then happy to fill you in." He motioned to the monk who was still sitting at the base of the palm tree. Aang glanced curiously over in the old man's direction. He was sitting peacefully against the tree trunk petting a sleeping Momo who was curled up comfortably upon the old man's lap.
"Come on Aang," Katara said, "I'll introduce you to him." She grasped his hand and hurriedly pulled Aang away from Zuko.
Sokka stood with arms crossed, gazing at Zuko with a stern expression upon his face.
"What," Zuko exclaimed in an irritated tone.
"Nothing," Sokka answered, "just curious."
"About what," Zuko asked defensively.
"About you and my sister," Sokka answered simply.
"There is nothing to be curious about," Zuko answered softly as he turned away from Sokka.
"Oh I see," Sokka answered, "so you are telling me that I just imagined all the weirdness between the two of you." Zuko glanced back at Sokka but he didn't answer him.
"Zuko, I'm not an idiot, I can see that something's weird between the two of you; what's the deal?"
"NOTHING," Zuko exclaimed impatiently, "nothing...ok, please just drop it." He quickly stormed away from his friend. Sokka just shook his head at Zuko's reaction.
"Excuse me Monk Basho," Katara interrupted the old man's daydreaming. Basho gazed up at her and smiled warmly.
"I'm glad to see you're back and safe my dear," he replied, "The General was quite worried about you." Katara smiled weakly and averted her eyes from the old man's gaze.
"Monk Basho," she replied softly, "Aang…um… I mean….the avatar is awake, and he wants to talk to you."
"Ahh, incentive to get up," the monk replied, "would you mind helping me up my dear?"
"No, not at all," Katara smiled. She reached out to him offering him her arm for support as he struggled to his feet. He stretched his arms tiredly over his head and yawned.
"Don't get old," he said to Katara, "its not very agreeable." Katara smiled and led the monk over to Aang.
"Monk Basho, this is Avatar Aang," Katara replied smiling in Aang's direction, "Aang this is Monk Basho."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Monk Basho," Aang replied bowing his head to the old man, "I only wish it was under better circumstances then this."
"Well we can't help the circumstances dealt to us can we Avatar," the monk smiled at Aang.
"No I guess we can't," Aang sighed. He paused a moment, gazing at the old man in curiosity. There was just something about the monk that seemed strange to Aang, something about his eyes that was not quite normal.
"Have we met before Monk Basho," Aang asked curiously. The old man seemed taken aback by Aang's question.
"Well of course not…," he stuttered, "how impossible."
"Well it's not that impossible Monk Basho," Katara chimed in, "Aang has been alive for over a hundred years, it could be possible that you met him as a child, or even during the war before he disappeared."
"Oh no," the monk insisted, "I assure you, meeting the Avatar is not something I would so easily forget." Aang just gazed questioningly at the monk as he spoke.
"Well," Aang sighed changing the subject, "Zuko said that you had some information about this evil spirit."
"Ahhh, that I do young man, come let me get my notes, I will fill you in." Aang nodded. The trio was suddenly joined by Zuko and Sokka.
"Here we are," the old man smirked as he leafed through one of his books, "I assume you've been informed about the spirit's identity." Aang nodded. The monk glanced over at him for a moment.
"Now that Aang is awake we should start making plans to take down Ozai," Zuko interrupted suddenly turning to face the monk. Basho nodded in Zuko's direction a slight smile forming across his face. The old man then turned to face Aang.
"It's a good thing you have decided to return to us Avatar," Basho said, "you may have information that can help us to defeat the spirit." Aang nodded.
The five castaways sat around the campfire and began to discuss their battle strategies.
"Alright Monk Basho what is this information that you have about the spirit," Aang inquired.
"Well the most important thing that we have is the spirits identity, now that we know that he can no longer trick us; he no longer has his element of disguise…of course that does not mean that he will not still try so we must continue to be on guard at all times."
"There is one thing that is bothering me Monk Basho," Sokka suddenly interrupted.
"What is that?"
"How exactly are we supposed to fight and defeat an enemy that is already dead; I mean is this even a fight that we can win?"
"A very good question," Basho acknowledged, "one that is unfortunately not easily answered." The monk paused for a moment gazing upward seemingly into the canopy of palm leaves and began to run his fingers through his straggly white beard.
"Perhaps," the old man paused, "it is not the question we should be asking."
"What are you talking about," Sokka replied impatiently, "what else should we be asking; the only thing we should be focusing on is a way to defeat him." The monk smiled slightly in Sokka's direction.
"Sometimes," he replied, "the answer comes when you think about it from another angle." Sokka nodded.
"There is a reason for everything," Basho continued, "why is this spirit able to attack you when all other spirits cannot, what is the difference; and after so much time has passed after the war, why does he choose now to exact his revenge?" The group pondered the monk's questions. All seemed stumped as to the answer.
"I got it," Sokka exclaimed, "It's the island!" All eyes turned to him in curiosity.
"The island people, come on," Sokka insisted, "Monk Basho didn't you say that this island acts as a portal to the spirit world?" The monk nodded.
"Well, that must be the reason that Ozai is able to come in contact with us at all, if we weren't on this island we wouldn't have to worry about being attacked, because Aang is the only one in the world who can contact the spirit world, the island is just acting like him cause he created it."
"That actually makes sense Sokka," Katara smiled. Aang just gazed at his two friends in sadness as he slowly realized the significance of their words.
"So if it were not for this island then Ozai would never have had the opportunity to come through at all," he paused turning his eyes to the ground, "this is all my fault…I gave Ozai the means to hurt you!"
"Aang no, don't think like that you couldn't have known what was going to happen," Katara exclaimed.
"My knowing or not knowing doesn't change anything Katara; if it wasn't for me none of you would be in danger right now!"
"Alright look Aang," Sokka interrupted, "sitting around blaming yourself is not helping us either, so get over it and help us think of a way to stop Ozai!"
"If you re correct about the island then there is one way," Monk Basho replied. The group turned in the old man's direction.
"We close the portal," the Monk replied staring straight in Aang's direction.
"Close the portal," Zuko questioned, "how do we do that?
"We have to destroy the island," Aang replied softly.
To be continued...